Gretchen Cawthon set up a VC session with a museum with her fourth graders last year. Get the details.

Advantages
  • no travel
  • increases opportunity
  • cheaper than busses and gas
Science experiences simultaneously between two schools
  • provided diff points of view (diff predictions)
  • students concerned with quality because they are sharing with kids they don't know
  • interaction with kids, seeing another school was good, esp with other gifted kids
Disadvantages
  • technicial failures
  • impersonal
  • roles unfamiliar
  • speaking order - monopoly
  • time
  • acoustical probs
  • informal social interaction not possible
  • trouble using document cameras, but you can have computer on screen
Solutions
  • set up and practice ahead of time
  • invite Kim Addams or Bruce to the first event to help
  • plan camera focus
  • plan speakers timing and write a script
  • plan for good classroom management
  • have a moderator, who is not the content teacher to cue other group when it is their turn
  • evaluate the experience and share on ETT subsite we need developed so we have a reference for what works and what we wouldn't want to repeat (I said BBH would not want to be in charge of that)
Stakeholders and Roles
  • Collaborative Planning Graphic Organizer (on sharepoint site)
    • objectives
    • desired outcomes
    • roles for each stakeholder
Organize
  • request the equipment (check the calendar)
  • email Bruce or Kim A about when we want it
  • lesson plan
  • script
  • set up equipment day before to test (10 to 15 min) on the same segment
  • play with remote for an hour before the first time
  • retest an hour ahead
  • preset camera to tables, resources, etc.
  • acclimate the students
  • give kids a minute to be silly before the connection
  • provide for whole class interaction - slates for kids to hold up answers, etc.
  • ediquette - don't yell "We can't hear you" some kids (John B Dey) was embarrassed because if his soft voice